The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-06-22
Our Washington Letter.
From Our Own Correspondent ]
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 13, 1887,

| w AS61SIAOS, ~ w., oihS 1O, 4OOi,
Not the least among the advantages tha
the city of Washington enjoys, is its situa
ton on the Potomac River, .and its easy &C
cess to places of historical interest, as vel
as resorts for pleasure. along its shores.
Comfortable excursion steamers aftel
first passing the beautiful arsenal grounds
where several batteries of artillery is now
quartered, reach Alexandria, port Of entry
seven miles below, with population be
tween $4,000 and 14,00O.
The river at this point is a mile and {
halt wide, forming harbor able to accom-
modate the largest ships.
At the opening of the civil war, Alexan
dria was in possession of the Confederates
but on the 24th of May, 1861, it was entered
BY Union forces under Col. Ellsworth, who
was shot while hauling down Confederate
flag.
Christ Church, where Washington wor.
shipped and where also, is shown the pew
occupied by the Confederate chieftain. Rob-
ert E. Lee, is the place of greatest interest
to strangers, next to which is the ancient
cemetery.
Alexandria has this year taken q new
lease of life, and new era of prosperity las
set in with the establishment of her iron
ship building yard, where frst-c!ass iron
steamer is now undergoing construction.
Eight miles below Alexandria is Mount
Vernon, the home and burial place Of George
Washington. At the time of his disceas',
the estate comprised several thousand acres. {.
The mansion is beautifully situated on q
swelling height, crowned with trees, and
commanding fine view up and down the
river. The library and Washington's bed
room remain as they were at the time of his
death, and contain many articles of great
interest.
The other rooms have been furnished, as
nearly as possible, to conform to the period
in which he lived, and q number of States
have assumed the care of o room each, pro-
ducing the furniture and decorations from
among tLe;r older families, thus serving the
double purpose of perpetuation of State as
well as National souvenirs Of the olden
time,
In 1855 the mansion and 200 acres of
land were bought by the Ladies Mount
Vernon Association" who hold it in perpet-
uity, as place of public resort and pill
grlmage.
Jay Gould, for the first time in his busy
life, found an opportunity last week, to Wis
it the tomb of the Father of his Country.
His magnificent yacht, Ata!anta, was anchor
ed Just off Mount Vernon, when his party
bethought them of flying visit to this city,
and leaving the yacht at Giesboro Point.
below the Arsenal wharf, they steamed up
hear in two of the smartest little steam
launches ever seen in these waters, and en-
ployed an afternoon in driving about the
city and surrounding country.
Seventy miles from Washington, is Colon
al Beach, noted Salt water bathing place.
This beach has long borne the name of tie
Classic Shore" because thre, miles back
in the county of Westnore!and, was Wash
ington's birth place; ruins Of the old house
still remain, and measures have been taken
to place monument on the site.
Before reaching Mount Vernon, on sail
down the river, Forts Foote and Washing
toa are passed; on the Maryland side and
almost opposite to it, is Marshall Hall. the
old homestead OF branch Of the family OF
the first Chief Justice; it now affords a
glimpse to modern eyes, of the modes IN
which the weD-to-do farmer or plantation